!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*
THE KAUTZ, KOUTZ, KOUTS, COUTS
2000 FAMILY INTERNATIONAL REUNION
THANK YOU, KAUTZ FAMILY AND THE IRONSTONE
KAUTZ WINERY!!! Jeri Dryden, niece of John and Gail
Kautz, planned and completed the details for the marvelous
reunion activities. Thank you, Jeri!
FRIDAY, JULY 7 - Adventurous souls got together and
Explored the mother lode country side, toured the winery,
visited tasting room and Gift shop. Upstairs a 44 lb. gold
Nugget was on display in the Winery's heritage museum.
Along side of The winery was a park along the lake.
Others visited the historic gold rush towns of Murphy's
and Angel's Camp, on "welcome home" week.
SATURDAY, JULY 8 - German music was played in
the park Saturday and Sunday. In the Winery entrance,
a set up that display Family Tree, Photos, Favorite
German/Russian Recipes, Memorabilia, and Family
Crests. Tents were set up for you with a variety of
foods from the Kautz Winery deli.

· Lawrence Kautz spoke about Johann George
· Kautz. He was a Carpenter and Wine makers. Johann
George was the father of Major General August Kautz
and Rear Admiral Albert Kautz, American heroes.
· Movies about the German/Russian History were shown.
The Children of the Stepp, Schmeckfest, and Traveling
to the Volga, gave an overview of the German/Russian area.
· Arthur Flegel lectured on the history of Germans-Russian
settlements of Kautz: Why they followed Katherine the Great
to Russia, why they immigrated, where they settled, how they
got there, and why they left to journey to the United States
of America.
· John Kautz thanked Mr. Flegel on his Kautz presentation/
lecture about the Kautz of Germany and Russia in the
United States will under. In the winery entry, some of
us met cousins, uncles, aunts and new relatives.
· John Kautz, Dennis Bixler (presenter and exhibitioner
· of the Agricultural Art and Science Foundation. He
· presented the photo collection of the German Immigrant
· and their contributions to the American culture and society),
· and Arthur Flegel greet the crowds of Kautzes.
· A German choir, Heimat Choir, serenaded us before dinner.
· It was conducted by Mister Miller, sang German songs
eloquently. Herr Miller, conductor. We enjoyed the entertainment
a fabulous dinner-German/Russian Buffet banquet, wine, a raffle,
introductions, camaraderie, dancing into the evening, to
Mr. Coontz and his Werlizer organ.

SUNDAY, JULY 9 - Kautzes sang German songs, attended
services, and listened to a German band, saying good-byes
and vowing to return, at least in five years, before going home.
GREAT PLACE TO VISIT - http://www.ironstonevineyards.com/
The John H. Kautz Winery, in Murphy's California
Chrisley Couts Sr. [circa 1750-1790] and
Sister Elizabeth [circa 1762-1855] OURS?
"Early church records of Rockingham County, Virginia"
by F. Edward Wright. Church records of Smith
Creek/Linville Baptist Church (later Brock's Gap
Baptist Church): Christian Couts was excommunicated
for the sin of fornication. Sister Elizabeth Couts was
brought before the church for profanely swearing and
keeping bad Company - excommunicated.
!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!
A Calendar of the Warrants for Land
in Kentucky, Granted for Service in the
French and Indian War Abstracted by Philip Fall Taylor

The Battle of Cowpens
Since so many of the families who married into the
Couts branch and others, who settled in the borderlands
between Tennessee and Kentucky, all came from the
Spartenburg, South Carolina area (circa 1781), I felt that
it was appropriate to share a portion of the Revolutionary
War that made the migration possible. Much of the
population was on the move, including Teter Couts, who
sold his land of twenty years and we think, headed
to Sugar Creek, Kentucky.
The Battle of Cowpens
http://www.ngb.dtic.mil/referenc/gallery/cowpen.htm
THE COWPENS, SOUTH CAROLINA,
JANUARY 17, 1781In upland South Carolina,
at a place where local farmers penned their cows, an
American force of 300 Continentals and 700 militia
from North and South Carolina, Virginia, and
Georgia, won a brilliant victory against the
British. On January 16, Brigadier General
Daniel Morgan, pursued by 1,100 British
under Lt.Col. Banastre Tarleton, carefully
picked his ground for a defensive battle.
That night, Morgan personally went among
the Continentals and militiamen to explain
his plan of battle. Morgan wanted two
good volleys from the militia, who would
then be free to ride away. The next day,
the battle went very much as Morgan
had planned. Georgia and North Carolina
sharpshooters, in front of the main body of
American militia, picked off British cavalrymen
as they rode up the slight rise toward the
Americans. Then the deadly fire of the main
body of South and North Carolina militia
forced Tarleton to commit his reserves.
Seeing the militia withdrawing as planned,
the 17th Light Dragoons pursued, but were
driven off by Morgan's cavalry. Meanwhile,
the British infantry, who assumed that the
Americans were fleeing, were hit by the main
body of Continentals, Virginia militiamen,
and a company of Georgians. At the battle's
end they were aided by militia troops, who,
instead of riding away as planned, attacked
the 71st Highlanders, who were attempting
to fight their way out of the American trap.
The British lost: 100 killed including 39 officers,
229 wounded, and 600 captured. As they
fled the field, Tarleton and his dragoons were
pursued by Colonel William Washington's
cavalry, which included mounted Georgia
and South Carolina militiamen. The
Continentals who fought at Cowpens
are perpetuated today by the 175th Infantry,
Maryland Air National Guard, and the 198th
Signal Battalion, Delaware Air National Guard,
and the Virginia militia by the 116th Infantry,
Virginia Air National Guard. The heritage of
the rest of the American troops who fought
in this "greatest tactical victory ever won
on American soil" is carried on today by the
Georgia, South Carolina and North
Carolina Army National Guards.
INTERNET RESEARCH - COUTS ON LINE
From: "Anne L. Miller"
To: Barbara Couts Evans Subject: Christley and Aaron
Couts Good Morning Barb, Here is a piece of information
that I have been searching through piles and files for.
Finally it came to light. It is a good indication of the
possible birth dates for Christley and Aaron, since they
had to be between 14 and 21 in order to choose their own
guardians: "At a County Court held for the County of
Warren at the Court house in the Town of Bowling green ON
Monday the 3rd day of December 1804" "Christley
Couch and Aaron Couch orphans of Chrisley Couch Came into
Court and made choice of Baily Anderson as their guardian
Who entered into Court in the penalty of $500 conditioned
as the law directs with Jesse Kirby Sec".
ORDER BOOK B, #567, Warren County Kentucky 3 December 1804
The zerox copy of this order was very light and extremely
hard to read. Hopefully I have transcribed it accurately.
Anne Miller amille01@coin.org (NOTE* new e-mail
address as of March 1 2000)
Robertson County, Tennessee Query Forum - Couts
and allied families Posted by Barbara Couts Evans
on Monday, 29 May 2000 Surname: COUTS
Hello, We are seeking information on the early settlers of
the border region between VA (KY) and NC (TN), circa 1780's
to 1830's. Specifically, we are looking for the COUTS
family (often misspelled and mispronounced Couch, Coons,
Coontz, Cotes, and 82 variations including "K"
i.e.Kouts). We will happily share what we have and include
your info in our newsletter and webpage.
http://www.syix.com/bevans/barbara/couts.html Posted by Janet
Hunter on Mon, 29 May 2000, in response to
Couts and allied families, posted by Barbara Couts Evans on
Mon, 29 May 2000 Surname: Couts, Stark, Byrd, Bird, Choate,
Haley Hi Barb, I thought you had our Couts line well in hand
(smile), [I WISH] and I am here working on Bird/Byrd and Choate.
Can you tell me WHERE exactly, in what counties, etc. in
TN/NC/VA/WVA you have pin pointed the Couts going?? And, what
time frame (1780-90??) I always assumed that they went from
Loudoun, etc. straight to Robertson Co. I'd like to help.
Janet (Baugh) Hunter..John Couts & Leah Stark>Nancy
Couts and John Byrd/Bird, s/o as of yet unknown>Henry
Bird/Byrd & Lucinda Choate,d/o Powhatan CHOATE and Winey
Haley, both of Robertson Co TN at some point.
Hi Janet! The Teter/John Couts (no heirs) (Kautz) were found
in Augusta Co. (No. Branch of the Shanando 1761-1781),
Rockingham, and Hampshire (now WVA) VA area. Probably Loudoun
before that. It is believed that son, John, of Teter lived
in Clinch River for a while. Chrisley, son, of Teter fought
in the Rev. War in the Western Div. under Geo. Rogers Clark,
near Louisville, KY and by 1786 was in Lincoln Co. (what is now
Allen Co.) KY. Their brother, Henry (probably William Henry)
was first found in Garrard Co. KY and then, with Teter, lived
in Hardin Co. south of Elizabethtown, on Sugar Creek. I am
seeking proof for all of the above. I forgot to say that Chrisley
died by 1790-1 and his brother, John Couts had arrived in the
Springfield area and met Leah Stark, by that time. Their
descendents still present today. John died in Aug 1829. Uncle
Henry, who is the key to the proof we need (transfer of deeds)
died in 1818. He ties the family members together through his
will, naming sister, Margaret and nephew Chrisley Jr.
From: KGFrontier@aol.com Subject: Couts Hi! Saw your query on
the Rockingham County site ("am seeking information on
Deter and Susannah Kouts (Koutz,Couts) They lived in Rockingham
Co. 1761-1781 on the N. Branch of the Shannando River. I am
seeking information on them and their heirs. Will happily
share our info. Thanks!" ) I'm curious to know whether the
John Couts in Davidson County, TN is a part of this family.
Do you know? Karen Green kgfrontier@aol.com Subj: Couts family?
From: Kathy Angel 1955 To: bevans@coutsfamily.com Hi My name is
Katherine Hobbs I live in Barstow I have learning about family
history My grandmother was Cave J Couts's granddaughter. I believe
that how it is, her name was Aurine Nancy Couts . I have been to
the Rancho Guajome. have met a lot of the family there I met
William Bandini Couts he was a really great man. I would be
interested in hearing from you on this . My Email is
KathyAngel1955 @aol.com
Thank you will be looking forward to hearing from you . I'm
learning how to use this puter I'm a little ruff around the edges.
Thanks Kathy.
Subj: Couts/Farmers From: CAESARMHSTo: iponder@ameritech.net
File: whfarmer.doc (31232 bytes) DL Time (TCP/IP): <1 minute
Teresa, I am forwarding you a letter regarding Farmer/Couts
families in answer to your Couts query. Barbara, I though you
might be able to use this information if you don't have it.
Thanks, The name of the document is called whfarmer.doc Mary
Scott Dear Teresa, I saw your query in the Couts newsletter
and asked Barbara for your email address. I descend from John
and Henrietta Couts line, not William and Nancy, but I, too,
had noticed some inconsistencies with regard to the William
Farmer situation. So I decided to delve a little deeper hoping
to straighten it out. The Stark book by Harris and Jorgenson
seems to have made the same mistake that I believe we all
have regarding William Farmer. I could still be wrong so I
would like to hear from you if you think you have anything
that might be contrary to my theory. Apparently there were
two William Farmers in Robertson County in the 1850s, one was
a farmer and one was a doctor. We know Elizabeth Couts married
William H. Farmer Feb 24, 1840 Robertson Co.,
Tn. Subj: Re: Alvis Couts marshall.mccoy@weyerhaeuser.com,
Hello- I am helping a good friend of mine, Len Lockwood, to
get started on his tree. He descends from Alvis Couts and
Sarah Grim through their daughter Lutetia who md. Lowell
Lockwood in 1892. Thanks for your help! Marshall McCoy.
Subj: Dietrick Couts From: eashand@ev1.net (Elizabeth
Shandalow) Barbara, I sent you an e-mail on Genforum asking
for assistance on my Couts line. After I left Genforum I went
to Family Treemaker Genealogy Site. I input the name Elizabeth
Couts. Several listings came up and on the third page there
was one for Elizabeth Couts. When I clicked on to it the page
that came up had all kinds of stuff on Dietrick Couts. He was
listed as the father of Elizabeth but Bavester Barton was not
listed as her husband. So I do not know if this is my
Elizabeth or not. What is important is that it may be your
Dietrick. It was under a subheading of ancestors of John
Reynolds Wilson. It might be worth checking out. It would be
great if this helped. Again, if you have anything on Elizabeth
Couts, wife of Bavester Barton, I would really appreciate it.
Take care.
Subj: Ysidora Bandini Couts
From: marcybarr@bigcanyoncc.org (Marcy Barr) Hi, I am not a
family member but I am a member of the San Juan Capistrano
Mission Living History Society. We portray individuals who
were in or near the mission during the years. When seeking a
character, Tony Forester, great grandson of Juan Forester,
suggested Ysidora. Your web page has been a great help. I am
still seeking a little more information on Ysidora. She is
mentioned but there is not much detail. I have not read
through all your newsletters
as yet but keep in doing so. I need to dress in period
dress. Tony tells me that Cave and Juan Forester were the
best of friends and corresponded on a regular basis since
they were two of the few who spoke English at that time. Any
help or direction you could provide would be most appreciated.
Thank you. Marcy Barr Roots Web's World Connect Project
Glad/Kennamer Genealogy Couts Chrisley Jr. Mrs. Homer (Martha
Elizabeth) Ryland, After her birth, supposedly, Chrisley Couts
disappeared for 10 years. "Came back" in 1832, sold his home
to Thomas Warren, 80 acres, to be paid for by 1835. Tom Glad
ID: I44068 Name: Aaron Couts Sex: M Birth: 1780
in Warren, Ky. Death: BET. 1826 - 1891 Reference N0: TJG-44069
Father: Chrisley Couts Mother: Sarah Wright Marriage 1
Elizabeth Barton b: 1794 in Pendleton Dist, Anderson, South
Carolina [??] Married: 1820 Married: WFT Est. 1808-1841
Married: WFT Est. 1808-1844 Please use this information only
as a starting point, I have not verified every source. I hope
you can find that missing link Boone County Virginia Easley
DeMarce ID: I02755 Name: Aaron Couts
Sex: M Birth: BET. 1793 - 1795
Per Family Group Sheet, Elizabeth Barton, b. 1794-1799, SC;
m. (1) 5 April 1821, Lacy Meadows; m. (2) Aaron Couts
(Barton 1981). NOTE BY VED: I think the Meadows marriage was
POSS a remarriage for Bavister Barton's widow, but DAR
applications thought the marriage was for a daughter. Meadows,
Lacy and Betsy Barton, Apr. 5, 1821, Warren Co., KY, both over
21. Sec: Berry Barton (Thomas, Rabold, and Price 1820, 56).
This could be a remarriage for the widow, since Lacy Meadows
was on the 1820 census of Allen Co., KY, with a household of
- 1 - 1 - -males; 2 1 1 - - females; - - - - (Lawson 1987, 1).
I don't find him later: see ASF entry above which had Berry
Barton married to "Lucy Meadows." W. Clyde Barton
had no information on descendents of this line. NOTE BY VED:
I have found no evidence for a "Couts" marriage. On
the other hand, I have located no documented data concerning the
wife and children of Aaron Couts. 1830 U.S. Census, Lafayette Co.,
MO, p. 258, shows Aaron Couts age 40-50; wife age 30-40.
Children: 1 male under 5, 1 male 5-10, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 15-20;
1 female under 5, 1 female 5-10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 15-20.
Lafayette Co. Mo Queries Couts
http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/USA/Mo/Lafayette?read=329
Posted by Barbara Anson on Tue, 20 Jun 2000,
in response to Couts Family, Early Missouri, posted by Barbara
Couts Evans on Sun, 13 Feb 2000 Surname: Anson, Anderson, Couts,
Collins, Wright, Barton, Kirby My research shows Christly Couts
Jr. died in Lafayette Co in 1839. His father Christly Sr. Married
Sarah Wright who later married my ancestor William Collins.
Christly and Sarah had 5 children, Aaron b. @1780 m1-Elizabeh
Barton, m2 in 1818-Sally Kerby in Warren Co KY.I have Sarah Wright
buried in Warren Co KY in 1810. Hope this helps. My line, the
Anson/Anderson/Collins is very much in Layfayette Co., Mo. My
History of Layfayette co says this: "William Collins (Sr),
a soldier of the revolutionary war from Carolina, also his so and
son-in-law and theri families amounting to eight persons, were
among the first settlers of this township (Davis) settling here
in 1825." The history also refers to a George Barton, Abner
and Mary Dyer of Warren Co, KY. No reference for Christly or
Aaron Couts. Surname: Collins Anderson
Posted by David L. Anderson on Thu, 02
Mar 2000, in response to Couts Family, Early Missouri, posted
by Barbara Couts Evans on Sun, 13 Feb 2000 Surname: Anderson,
Moore, Dyer, Collins, Matthews, Caufield Researching has drawn
a blank on the Moore and Caufield GGgrandmother Nancy Jane Moore
married Abner Dyer abt 1803 in Pendleton District South Carolina.
Abner and Nancy migrated to Warren County Ky. I am trying to
find Nancy Janes Parents and or brothers/sisters or any Moore
connection. Abner Dyer Died abt 1812 in Warren Co. Ky.. Nancy
remarried William Collins in Mar.1818 They move to Mo. before
1840 with their combined families. William Collins first
marriage was to Sarah Wright and they had 7 children. The
families descendents still reside around the Lafayette Co. and
Johnson Co., Warrensburg Mo. area. The Caufields are a blank as
their are some Buried in the McGinness Cemetery. They could
have been Brothers to James Matthews Wife, "Nancy"
who came from Antrim County Ireland. James and Nancy also are
buried at the McGinness Cemetery in Lafayette County.
Anson/Anderson/Collins
Posted by Barbara Anson on Tue, 20
Jun 2000, in response to Surname: Collins Anderson, posted by
David L. Anderson on Thu, 02 Mar 2000 Surname: Anson, Anderson,
Collins, Dyer Hi Cousin! In Layfayette Co, Mo, Emily Elizabeth
Anderson m. Amon Anson. Her parents were Ira Davis Anderson and
Harriot Adline Collins. Her father William Collins believed
married #1 Sarah Wright Couts #2 Nancy Moore Dyer. Sarah's
father was John Wright. This info was received from Sara
Scheil in Independence Mo in 1982

Robertson County, Tennessee 1802-1930 Obituaries
and Death Records - Poole
FARMER, WILLIAM H. Yesterday, Dr. William H.
Farmer, who had been one of the eminent
and successful practitioners in this section for
nearly 70 years, died at his home at Keysburg,
Kentucky. Heart failure was the cause of death.
He was 87 years old, the youngest son and last
survivor of a large family reared in Robertson
County by Colonel William Farmer, who
commanded a regiment in General Alexander's
brigade in Revolutionary War. His father Col.
William Farmer distinguished himself as a soldier
and was awarded two sections of land, which
he entered on the Cumberland, on a portion
of which Nashville is now located. He was a
member of the Methodist Church, and a man
of much piety. The funeral services and burial
took place at Keysburg this afternoon. Dr. Farmer
was the father-in-law of M.V. Ingram of Clarksville,
so well known to the press of Tennessee, for he
was the founder of the Clarksville Tobacco Leaf
and for a number of years was one of the most
spirited writers in the state. Nashville American
April 9, 1897.
My best guess is that Elizabeth Couts married
William (Willis) H. Farmer the PHYSICIAN and
together they appeared to have had only three
children: 1) Martha J. Farmer b. April 4, 1841 -
Died- Sep.-1850 (the census was taken at the
Couts house October 1850 so Martha had just
died) .2) Anna Laurie Farmer b. cir. 1843-44,
and 3) Willis H. Farmer, Jr. b. cir. 1845. William
H. Farmer must have been on a house call or
he could have been tending to burial details .
hard to say why he missed the census. Anna
Laurie Farmer, their daughter, married Martin
V. Ingram and moved to Clarksville, Tennessee.
The Farmer family resided in Robertson County
until sometime after 1860 at which time they
must have moved to Keysburg, Kentucky.
Elizabeth M. Couts Farmer died sometime
between 1870-1897. Apparently she was
buried in the William Couts cemetery where
the gravesite states that she was born 1825.
This date would be in keeping with the
information she provided to the various censuses.
I'm afraid this doesn't help you out in your
search for your Julia's "ELIZABETH"
ancestor is. My guess is that the two Farmer
families are somehow related. The obit for
WH Farmer the doctor mentioned land in Nashville.
Could be that you might find more Farmers in
Davidson County. Just a hunch.
ARTICLES FROM THE SAN DIEGO UNION AND OCEANSIDE BLADE
August 30, 1990 LOS ANGELES TIMES AGE 138
RANCHO GUAJOME OCEANSIDE Built in 1852,
this 20-room adobe is now the subject of a
massive restoration project by the county Parks
and Recreation Department. About $800,000
has been raised of the $2 million needed to
repair the adobe walls disintegrating because
of dampness and the elements. Owned and
operated by two generations of the Cave
Johnson Couts family, the rancho played host
at one time to Helen Hunt Jackson, the 19th-
Century author and Indian activist. one of the
large guest bedrooms has been named by
park rangers, "The Helen Hunt Jackson Room."
In its heyday, the 2,219 acre
Rancho Guajome was a self- sustaining
community. The Couts family expanded
the adobe over the years to include a
chapel, stables, a blacksmith shop and
tack room and a courtyard. COLONEL
CAVE J. COUTS, of Guajome. Of all the
prominent men who at one time or another
held official positions in San Diego County,
none are more deserving of fame that
Colonel Cave Johnson Couts. Although
trained to arms, being a graduate of West
Point, and having made a gallant record
in the war with Mexico, yet his greatest
achievements were in the paths of peace.
Of a tall, commanding figure, a little over
six feet in height, weighing about 165 pounds,
straight as an arrow, willowy and active,
a perfect horseman, the beau ideal of a
cavalry officer, with the natural instincts of
a gentleman, supplemented by a thorough
education, fond of an active, busy life,
devoted to his family, the soul of honor, -
to him a lie was like blasphemy, being
inexcusable and unpardonable, - of strict
integrity and business habits,he was also
jovial and a genial companion, fond of
jokes, music and dancing; a thorough
man of business and a perfect gentleman
in society. He was born near Springfield,
Tennessee, November 11, 1821, in the same
neighborhood where his father and mother
were born, where they married, lived and
died. His education was taken in hand by
his uncle, Cave Johnson, who became Secretary
of the Treasury under President Polk, and at the
age of seventeen he was sent to West Point,
graduating in 1843, when he was commissioned
a Brevet Second Lieutenant
in the Regiment of Mounted Rifles, served on
the frontier at Fort Jesup, Louisiana, until 1845,
when he was sent with a detachment of troops
to Fort Washita, Indian Territory, in the meantime
being commissioned Second
Lieutenant of the First Dragoons, on frontier
duty at Evansville, Arkansas, and Fort Gibson, I
ndian Territory, until
February, 1847, when he was promoted First
Lieutenant of the First Dragoons, and served
on the Mexican frontier throughout the war,
passing through New Mexico and Arizona,
and Lower California to San Diego, serving
in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Luis Rey
from 1848 to 1851, in the meantime conducting
the expedition to the Gila river in 1849. April 5,
1851, he married Ysidora Bandini, a daughter
of Don Juan Bandini, in San Diego; in October
of the same year he resigned from the army
and was soon thereafter appointed Colonel
and Aid-de- Camp on the staff of Governor Bigler.
He was very methodical in his habits, and kept
a class album containing the autographs of all
who were at West Point during the time he was
there, and also an exceedingly well-written journal
of his trip across the country from Indian Territory
to San Diego. The journey is beautifully illustrated
with views along the route, as he was an excellent
artist; only three of his pictures have been given
to the public: Old San Diego, the Mission of San
Diego and the Mission of San Luis Rey, all as they
appeared in 1850; a few copies were
lithographed, and subsequently photographs
have been taken from the lithographs. The
missions in 1850 were much finer than they are
now, and his foresight has preserved for the future
valuable mementos of the past. In his class album
appear the signatures of D. H. Hill and R. H.
Anderson of South Carolina; A. J. Williamson,
U. S. Grant and R. Hazlitt, of Ohio; T. C. Hammond,
Charles Mahon, W. B. Franklin, J. H. Garland and
W. S. Hancock, of Pennsylvania; H. Brown, F.
Denman, D. B. Sacket, F. Steele, Henry M. Judah,
M. K. Van Bokkelin, B. S. Ripley and Charles Allen
Hardie, of New York; James R. May, John Newton,
R. W. Johnston and J. P. Johnston, of Virginia; C.
Benjamin of Indiana; Earl of Van Dorn and W. H.
C. Whiting, of Mississippi; E. E. McLean, of
Maryland; A. P. Stewart, W. Pope Hale and
John Y. Bicknell, of Tennessee; H. Clement Story,
of Louisiana: W. L. Crittenden, J. J. C. Bibb, J. J.
Reynolds and S. Bolivar Buckner, of Kentucky;
Henry Coppee and James Longstreet, of Georgia;
C. Colon Anger, of Michigan; F. T. Dent, of Missouri;
Mansfield Lowell and Alfred Pleasanton, of the
District of Columbia. From among the foregoing
names it will not be difficult to pick out a large
number who have since become famous for the
part they took on either side of the late war.
Although Colonel Couts was an extensive raiser
of cattle and horses, yet he early foresaw that the
climate of San Diego County was adapted to all
kinds of agriculture, particularly to horticulture,
and he was the first to plant an orchard on a large
scale with the improved varieties of fruits, and for
years his was the only orange grove in the country.
For two years after leaving the army he lived in San
Diego, where he served a term as County Judge; in
1853 he moved with his family, consisting of his wife
and two children, to Guajome, which place has ever
since been the family homestead; it was an Indian
grant and contains 2,219 acres, made by the Mexican
Government to Andres, an Indian, and to his two sisters.
It was bought by Don Abel Stearns, of Los Angeles,
and by him presented to Mrs. Couts as a wedding
present. In the Indian language the term means "frog
pond." When Colonel Couts went out there in 1852 to
take possession and inaugurate his improvements,
there was not the sign of a tree of any kind, where
now are immense orchards, vineyards and willow
thickets; he carries a few boards from San Diego,
and with them and willow poles, hauled from the
river bottom two miles away, he put up a little
shed sufficient to cook and sleep in. There was a
damp piece of land, a small cienega, but no running
water, and in order to water his mules it was
necessary to dig a hole in the ground with a
spade, and with a small dipper dip up enough
water to fill a bucket and thus water his mules.
Where that was done in 1852 there is now a large
pond, sixty feet in diameter and seven feet deep,
full all the time and running over in a large stream,
which issued for irrigation. At that time there were
a great number of Indians in and around San Luis
Rey, and it was an easy matter for Colonel Couts
as he was an Indian agent, to command the
services of enough laborers to do his work. It was
not long before the results of the patient labor of
300 Indians took the form of an immense adobe
house, built in a square, containing twenty rooms,
a fine court-yard in the center, well filled with
orange and lemon trees and every variety of
flower; immense barns stables, sheds and corrals
were added, after extensive quarters for the
servants were built; then to finish the whole a
neat chapel was built and formally dedicated
to the worship of God. His military training enabled
him to control and manage the Indians, as only he
could. Everything in and about the ranch was
conducted with such neatness and precision
that a stranger would at once inquire if "Don
Cuevas," as he was generally called, was not
from West Point. By strict attention to business
he accumulated thousands of cattle, hundreds
of horses and mules, a large band of sheep,
and added to his landed interest by the purchase
of the San Marcos, Buena Vista and La Joya
ranches, besides some 8,000 acres of Government
lands adjoining the homestead; in all some
20,000 acres. But the passage of the "no-fence
law" almost ruined him financially, as he was
compelled to dispose of his cattle at a fearful
sacrifice, and he was just recovering from the
crash when he died. He was not permitted to
enjoy the fruits of years of toil and thousands
of dollars well spent. His death occurred at
the Horton House, in San Diego, June 10, 1874,
from an aneurism. Colonel Couts was one of
twelve children, his wife one of ten, and she
bore him ten, viz.: Abel Stearns, who died in
1855, aged nearly four years; Maria Antonia,
now the wife of Colonel Chalmers Scott, living
in San Diego, with seven children; William
Bandini, married to Cristina, daughter
of Don Salvador Estudillo, farming near the
San Marcos ranch; Cave Johnson, Jr., a surveyor
by profession; Ysidora Forster, now the wife of
W. D. Gray; Elena, married to Parker Dear, Esq.,
and living on the Santa Rosa ranch; Robert Lee,
John Forster, and Caroline, married to John B.
Winston, of Los Angeles. Dona Ysidora Bandini de
Couts, widow of Colonel Cave J Couts, deceased,
has continued to reside on the old
homestead at Guajome,
and for fifteen years has managed
the estate with great skill and ability.
Her task has been a trying one, and, but
for her great will-power, she would
have broken down long ago; but she
comes of a family renowned for physical
and mental strength and beauty. Her father,
Don Juan Bandini, was a prominent official
under the Mexican government, living in
San Diego, where Ysidora was born, but,
being a progressive man a possessing an
education far above those who surrounded
him, he was quick to foresee the result of the
war with Mexico, and was one of the first to
side with the Americans. It was three of his
daughters, Ysidora being one, who made
the first American flag hoisted in Los Angeles.
Her grandfather Don Juan Bandini, was a
native of old Spain, and admiral in the
Spanish navy, stationed on the pacific coast
under the old regime, and was in command
in Peru when her son John, the father of
Ysidora, was born. The family are originally
Italian, and Prince Bandini, of Rome, is at the
present head of the house. At the time of her
marriage, Don Ysidora was considered the
most beautiful lady in Southern California, if
not on the coast; and even now, although
time and care have necessarily had their effect,
yet few, of her years, would claim to rival her.
"AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA",
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1890. CAVE J.
COUTS, JR., a native of California, was born on
the Gua Joine ranch, situated eight miles east
of Oceanside, June 5, 1856. The biography of his
father, Colonel Cave J. Couts, appears in this
history. The education of Cave J., Jr., was first by
private tutor on the ranch. He was then at school
at Los Angeles for three years, and then attended
the Southwestern Presbyterian University at Clarksville,
Tennessee, taking the classical course as well
as a common course in civil engineering,
passing his final examinations in 1874 with
marks of distinction. He then returned home
and began the practice of his profession in
1877 at Los Angeles, as assistant to Michael
Kellehar, who was then City Engineer. He has
also been largely connected with railroad work
with the California Southern and Southern Pacific,
and in the interests of the latter road assisted in
surveying a line from Yuma to Port Isabel, under
the management of Colonel Chalmers Scott.
In 1883 he accompanied Colonel Scott to Central
America in the interests of the same road, and in
1884 was resident engineer of the Salvador Central
Railway, and was also the accredited representative
for the Central American Pacific Railway and
Transportation Company in the city of San Salvador,
remaining in Central America until October, 1884,
when he was driven out by yellow fever, and
was the only one in five who recovered and
reached home. In 1885 he laid out
and subdivided the ranch of A. J. Myers, upon
which is now built the city of Oceanside. Mr.
Couts is now the only United States Deputy Surveyor
in San Diego County. He was married in January,
1887, to Miss Lily Bell Clemens, a lineal descendent
of John Mullanphy, who was one of the pioneers
and founders of St. Louis, Missouri, a noted
philanthropist who established many homes
and hospitals in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Couts
have one son, Cave J., born October 15, 1887.
Mr. Couts has a pleasant home at San Diego,
and also owns a ranch of 160 acres within one
mile of his birthplace, where passes much of his
time. "AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA", THE LEWIS PUB. COMPANY, 1890
MATHEW CALDWELL NEPHEW TO MARY "POLLY"
CALDWELL COUTS
SONS OF DEWITT COLONY TEXAS Wallace L. McKeehan
"Fight for your Homes and Families and
give them Hell---there was something very
solom with great courage as well as
Chivaraly mixed with a little of the comic
in the appearance of the Col---above the
common hight of men a little slim dark hair
now mixed with white patches mor partulary
in the Beard by which he got the Sobriquite of
Old Paint....James Ramsay at the Battle of Salado."
"Mathew (Old Paint) Caldwell was born in
Kentucky about 1798 and is said to have
acquired the nickname because of white
spots in his hair, beard and on his breast
like a paint horse. According to Kemp in
The Signers of the Texas Declaration of
Independence, Caldwell is thought, like
the Burkett, Zumwalts, Kents and DeWitts,
to have come from Missouri. Baker in Texas
Scrapbook says he came from Tennessee.
Other records indicate that Caldwell and
his family were part of the party who came
to the colony as part of the Tennessee-Texas
Land Company. Land records indicate that
Caldwell arrived in the DeWitt Colony with a
family of 5 on 20 Feb 1831. He received title to
a sitio of land on 22 Jun 1831 southwest of current
Hallettsville in Lavaca County near the Zumwalt
Settlement. In Gonzales, Caldwell acquired the
original James Hinds residence on Water St.
across from the Guadalupe River south of the
Dickinson and Kimble Hat Factory. Dixon in The
Men Who Made Texas states that Caldwell was
born 8 Mar 1798, moved with his parents to
Missouri in 1818, became a skilled Indian fighter
in Missouri and was involved in trading with local
Indians in the territory. Dixon further states he
came to Texas from Missouri via Natchitoches
by horseback in 1833 and first settled in current
Sabine County where he was elected along
with Stephen Blount and Martin Parmer to represent
the area at the Independence Convention of 1836.
Election returns in Gonzales County show Caldwell
and John Fisher were elected delegates from that
municipality for the convention. Capt. Caldwell
married Mrs. H. Morrison in Washington County on
17 May 1837 with Rev. W.P. Smith officiating. After
her death he married Mrs. Lily Lawley. He was the
father of three or more
children, Martha (m. Isham D. Davis), Ann (m.
Johnson Baker Ellison) and Curtis who died young..
Caldwell County, Texas is believed to have been
named in honor of Mathew Caldwell. He died in 1842."
9
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